Chapter 2.9 Raven the Phoenix
"Very well then, if that is what you want, I will give it to you..."
The voice echoed, neither male nor female, neither young nor old. It carried both kindness and boldness, a strange blend of light and darkness woven together. It was impossible to tell what it truly was—perhaps a mixture of both.
Before Raven could respond, her consciousness was suddenly pulled away from that strange world. The dazzling crystals and voices vanished, and she found herself back in her own body.
When she opened her eyes, Silver was leaning over her, his face pale with worry.
"Silver?" Raven whispered, blinking up at him.
"Finally, you're awake!" Silver's voice trembled with relief. "I was so worried something might have happened to you. I'm so glad you're alright!" He pulled her into a tight embrace, his shoulders shaking as he held her close.
"Silver... everything is alright now. Everything is alright."
Raven smile softly, wrapping her arms around him in return. She patted his back gently, coaxing him to calm down as she reassured him of her safety.
After half an hour had passed, Silver finally let go of the tight hug and faced Raven who only beamed a smile at him.
He smiled back, relieved to see his Cici safe and happy.
Almost without thinking, his hand reached up to caress her hair—something he always did whenever he saw her. He didn't know when this habit began, but to him it was more than a gesture.
It was reassurance.
Proof that she was still here, still by his side. A quiet fear lingered in his heart: if the day ever came when he could no longer do this, then that would be the day he had truly lost her.
Silver shook the thought away, forcing it out of his mind. His eyes darkened slightly as he gazed at his disciple, who was still smiling at him so innocently, unaware of the storm of emotions behind his stare.
Unbeknownst to him, Raven was also smiling secretly. She knew her husband too well. With just one look, she could read him, could see through the emotions he tried to hide.
"Mou~ Silve—" Raven began, her voice playful.
But before she could finish, the ground trembled. From the distance, a deafening sound tore through the silence.
BOOOOM!
The air shook, birds scattered from the trees, and the peaceful moment between them shattered in an instant.
"What's that?"
Raven eyes narrowed as she looked into the far distance. She turned to Silver, who was already frowning, his brow furrowed in deep concern.
"The Tower..."
Silver hissed under his breath. His expression hardened.
"Cici, stay here where it's safe. I'll come back for you, I'll be back as soon as I can."
Before Raven could even respond, Silver had already turned and dashed off, his figure disappearing into the trees.
"Silver!"
Raven ran after him shouting for him, her voice sharp with frustration.
She clenched her fists as she watched him vanish.
"Don't run off just like that!"
The forest fell silent again, leaving Raven standing alone, her heart pounding with unease.
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Chaos—there was no other word to describe what was happening in the Kingdom of AshLand. Everywhere one looked, there was fire and ruin. Buildings and houses burned like torches, smoke choking the sky.
People ran in every direction, screaming, trampling over one another in their desperation to escape. Even children were abandoned, left crying in the streets as their families fled in blind panic.
Hordes of beasts swarmed the kingdom, tearing through the streets like a flood. They killed for sport, for pleasure, for no reason at all. Anything that moved was hunted down and ripped apart. They were monsters in every sense of the word—merciless, bloodthirsty, without a shred of guilt.
"Shit! Why is that dumb Gold's Tower open?!"
Luka's whip cracked as she lashed another beast to the ground.
"Look at this disaster! That gate of his is drawing every kind of Demonic Beast here! Why was an idiot like him given the second most dangerous gate of all? What a fool!"
"Instead of badmouthing him, aren't you more worried about what happened to him?"
Jade snapped back, her blade cutting down a snarling beast.
"You know the only way to open a gate is to use the Guardian's hea—"
"Enough!"
Hisha's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding, silencing Jade before she could finish
"Shut up! Instead of talking nonsense, why don't you fight seriously! Stop talking and fight!" Hisha snapped, her glare sharp as fire.
With a sweep of her hand, she unleashed another Holy Flame, incinerating more than forty beasts in one strike.
"You'd better quiet down."
Aria tried to be gentle, though her tone carried warning.
"Hisha is not in a good mood today."
The two Guardians exchanged a glance and wisely chose silence. They knew if they kept chattering, Hisha might just turn her flames on them instead of the beasts.
The battlefield was drenched in blood and smoke.
Thousands of Demonic Beasts had already been cut down by the combined might of the Guardians and their disciples, yet the tide showed no sign of slowing. Wave after wave surged forward, crashing against them like raging waters, endless and merciless.
Even with their strength, the Guardians felt the weight of exhaustion pressing down. Every strike, every spell, was swallowed by the sheer number of enemies. It was like trying to hold back a flood with bare hands.
The group pressed on to the open gate, step after step, until they finally reached the top of the Tower.
The silence there was unsettling.
No beasts, no enemies, not even the sound of wind. It was too quiet—unnaturally so.
Weapons gripped tightly in their hands, they braced themselves for an ambush that never came.
"Gold! Gold! Where are you?!" Jade's voice rang out, echoing against the stone walls.
"What are you doing?"
Yuka hissed, grabbing her arm.
"Don't shout so loudly, or you'll draw our enemy straight to us."
"But..."
Jade's protest faltered as the silence pressed in heavier than before. The air felt thick, as if the Tower itself was holding its breath.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Something was wrong. Everything had been too smooth, too easy.
And now, standing at the top, the absence of danger felt more terrifying than any battle.
"Luka is right. We may not see it, but our enemy is here, hiding in the shadows. Think about it, ever since we stepped into this Tower, not a single Demonic Beast has blocked our path. Why would the Tower's gate open if no one opened it? This proves it. Coming up here was nothing but a trap. It was too easy... because they wanted us here."
Silver's voice was low and cold, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the figure lurking in the distance.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Well said. A very good deduction, if I may say."
The figure in black robes sneered, his laughter echoing through the chamber as he stepped out of the darkness.
"But still... you all walked right into my trap."
"Who are you?" Aria demanded, her grip tightening on her weapon.
"Where is Gold?"
Hisha hissed, her sword raised, her eyes narrowing into sharp slits as her killing intent filled the air.
The figure tilted his head, the hood of his robe hiding his face, but the cruel smile in his voice was unmistakable.
"Where is Master?!" Dark demanded, his eyes burning as he glared at the man.
Even if his master was a fool at times, he was still his Master—and no one had the right to touch him without permission.
"Gold? You mean Guardian II?"
The robed man chuckled darkly.
"Well, I don't know where that Guardian ran off to. But with all of you gathered here, I'm certain he'll come running soon enough. Not that it matters... because no one can save you now!"
"If Gold isn't here, then how did you open the gate?"
Gillha pressed, suspicion heavy in his voice.
"Only by sacrificing a Guardian's heart can the gate be opened. So how did you do it?"
The man's laughter suddenly erupted, echoing through the chamber.
"Hahahaha!!"
Jade scowled. "What's so funny?" she asked sassily, her hand tightening on her weapon.
"You going silly or something?" Amethyst added with the same sharp tone, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Like Master, like disciple.
The man's laughter slowed, his hooded face tilting toward them.
"Funny? No... it's just amusing how little you understand. You think you know the rules of the gates, but the truth is far darker than you imagine."
The hooded figure smirks.
"There is another way to open the gate without sacrificing a Guardian's heart. You can use a Guardian's blood to open it."
All eyes turned to Silver the moment he spoke.
Shock rippled through the group. All their lives, they had been taught that only by offering a Guardian's heart could the gate be opened.
Yet with just one sentence, Silver shattered that belief. None of them had ever imagined that blood alone could also unlock it.
"Then... did he use Guardian Gold's blood to open the gate?" Yuka asked, her voice sharp as she glared at the man in black, anger flashing in her eyes
The man in black robes chuckled, his smirk widening as Silver's sharp words cut through the silence.
"Oh? You're sharper than I thought."
The man in black praised, his voice dripping with mock admiration.
"Yes... the blood alone is not enough. It is only a key that cracks the door open, but the heart—ah, the heart is what keeps it open forever. And once all six gates are fully awakened, the portal will tear through the veil between worlds."
His laughter echoed, low and menacing.
"And when that happens, this fragile little kingdom of yours will be nothing but ash beneath the feet of those who come through."
The Guardians stiffened, their grips tightening on their weapons
"If that's the truth, what happened to my Master!"
Dark insisted on knowing what happened to his Master, f*ck the gate!
The robed man sneered.
"Who knew what happened to that rat? Still, I'm thankful he left some blood behind. With it, I was able to temporarily open the gate. And I was right—once it opened, I knew all of you would rush here to close it. Now you're exactly where I want you... trapped!"
"So that's your goal?"
Silver's eyes narrowed, his tone cold.
"To bring destruction here? To unleash what lies beyond the portal?"
The man tilted his head, the shadows of his hood hiding his face.
"Destruction? Of course, of course! Why else would I open the gate to the other world if not to achieve something?"
The man in black robes spread his arms wide, his voice rising with madness.
"My goal is destruction! I want this cursed world reduced to nothing—burned, broken, erased until not a single trace of its filthy earth remains!"
His voice cracked, a roar filled with both fury and sorrow.
"All I want is destruction! I want everything in this world destroyed!!!"
The chamber shook with the force of his words, his cry echoing like a storm, heavy with rage and heartbreak.
"And you, Guardians... you are the last chains I must break."
His voice rose, echoing with both madness and conviction. The air grew heavy, the Tower itself trembling as if it shared in his madness.
The Guardians could feel the storm of emotions pouring out from the man—anger, sorrow, fleeting joy, deep sadness, madness, and above all, crushing loneliness.
They didn't know what he had gone through, or why he wanted the world destroyed, but one truth was clear: no matter how much one hated the world, no one had the right to erase it.
This world was never his to destroy.
"Now then, why don't we begin?"
The man in black robes spread his arms wide, his voice echoing with arrogance.
"Come at me together if you like—I don't care. I can defeat all of you on my own!" His eyes gleamed as he looked at them with open provocation.
"You—!"
Hisha snarled, her temper flaring. She gritted her teeth and charged forward, sword raised.
But Gillha's hand shot out, stopping her in her tracks.
"Don't be reckless."
Gillha warned firmly.
"He's baiting you. A man like this wouldn't walk in here and challenge all of us Guardians without a plan. He's hiding something... and I'm certain he still has many tricks up his sleeve."
The group tightened their formation, their weapons ready, as Gillha's sharp gaze tried to pierce through the veil of darkness surrounding their enemy.
"Boo! Not attacking me anymore? How boring~" The man mocked, raising his hands in a childish boo gesture, his grin twisted with malice.
"What do you really want?"
Aria's voice cut through his taunts. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to read the truth buried in his heart.
"No one seeks destruction for nothing. There's something you've lost... something you want back."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
The man scoffed, shrugging his shoulders.
"I told you already, what I want is destruction, nothing else! Why would I destroy the world if not because I want it destroyed?"
His tone was sharp, but his eyes flickered with something unspoken.
"Enough chitchat. Let's fight!"
With that, the man in black robes dashed forward, his movements swift and violent. A surge of power erupted from his blade as he unleashed a devastating strike. The Guardians scattered, narrowly evading the attack as the ground split and cracked beneath its force.
"Not bad."
The man sneered, straightening.
"But how will you fare against this?"
He raised his sword high, the air howling as a violent wind swirled around it. A blinding light burst forth, and at its center formed a dark sphere, like a black hole, devouring everything that touched its pull. The very space around it warped, as if reality itself was being swallowed whole.
"Hell Destroyer!" He roared, bringing the attack down with terrifying force.
"Not bad, but with just that kind of spell, you won't be able to defeat me. Heaven's Punishment: Holy Bain!"
Silver released a blinding white light burst to life in his hand. He lifted it high, the radiance growing larger and larger until it threatened to swallow the sky itself.
"Let's see who wins then! Hell Destroyer—go!"
The man in black commanded with a raised hand, his black hole surging forward, its pull devouring everything in its path.
"Heaven's Punishment: Holy Bain—go!"
Silver countered, hurling the white light straight into the oncoming darkness.
The two forces collided—black against white, void against radiance—and the impact shook the heavens. The clash erupted into a violent explosion, the shockwave blasting through the Tower and sending those unable to withstand it flying back.
Yet in the center of the storm, Silver and the man in black stood firm, neither yielding an inch. Again and again, they unleashed their powers, each strike meeting the other in a storm of light and shadow.
The Guardians and disciples could only watch, their weapons trembling in their hands. They knew they had no place in this battle. The speed was too fast, the power too overwhelming. To step in would mean instant death.
All they could do was witness the clash of two titans—equal in strength, terrifying in might—while the outcome remained shrouded in uncertainty.
"Not bad... not bad at all!!"
The man in black gasped for air, his hair in wild disarray, his once‑imposing robes torn and tattered. At last, his appearance was revealed—jet‑black hair, piercing sapphire eyes, and a face so striking it was almost blinding. His age was impossible to guess, his beauty both dangerous and unreal.
"Who are you really?"
Silver demanded an answer, his gaze sharp as he studied the man. That strange, familiar aura he had felt since their first encounter only grew stronger now that he could see him clearly.
"I've never seen you before in these lands. Tell me—what clan do you hail from? Who are you?"
The others fixed their eyes on the man as well, but he only grinned back at them. His smile was mocking, unshaken by their questions, as if to say no matter what they asked, he would never give them the truth.
"My name is of no importance."
The man laughed madly, his voice echoing with dark conviction.
"All you need to know is this—I am the one who will bring about the end of this world! WORLD DESTRUCTION: HEAVEN'S CALAMITY!!"
A dark grin twisted across his lips, lips so unnaturally alluring that one could almost call them sinful. His beauty was a weapon in itself, enchanting and dangerous.
"World Destruction: Heaven's Calamity?!"
Jade's eyes widened, her voice rising in alarm.
"That's a spell powerful enough to wipe out an entire kingdom—no, even the world itself! If he casts it, everything will end! We have to stop him at all costs!"
Gillha's face darkened as he stared at the growing light that pulsed and expanded with every passing second.
"How powerful is this man... to wield such a spell so easily, even at the cost of his life. Does he truly hate this world so much that he wants it completely destroyed?"
The air trembled, the Tower groaning under the weight of the spell as the light continued to swell, threatening to consume everything.
"Hahahah! With this, no one can stop me now!"
The man in black roared with laughter as he hurled the glowing sphere of light straight at the Guardians.
The Guardians reacted instantly, summoning spells and unleashing their Heavenly artifacts. But against the blinding radiance, their defenses shattered one after another like fragile glass.
Only Silver's silver barrier remained, trembling under the crushing force. His face was pale, sweat dripping down as he struggled to hold it together.
The ball of light pressed harder, eating away at the barrier until a crack split open. In the next instant, the deadly sphere slipped through the gap, zapping straight toward them.
The Guardians and disciples froze, their faces drained of color. Despair gripped them—they had no way to stop it.
Then, out of nowhere, a small but fierce light—black and white intertwined—shot forward. No larger than a fist, it collided with the massive sphere. The clash was blinding, and in an instant, the great ball of destruction shattered into nothingness.
"Dad, pleaseeee... stop it now!!"